Transfer mechanism

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for laterally transferring successive axially advancing product lengths from the run-on table of a rolling mill to the receiving end of the cooling bed. The apparatus includes a first sliding notch extending along one side of the run-on table and a second laterally adjacent sliding notch at the receiving end of the cooling bed. Immediately upon being transferred laterally by sweep-off arms from the run-on table into the first notch, a given product length begins to slide to rest. One side of the first notch is then elevated to laterally transfer the sliding product length into the second notch, where it eventually comes to rest. While the product length is being removed from the second notch by the cooling bed carryover rack, the sweep-off arms have already deposited the next successive product in the first sliding notch. The operation of the sweep-off arms and the movable side of the first notch is controlled by eccentrics mounted on a common rotatable shaft.

1 [72] Inventors Kenneth L. llilusmier FOREIGN PATENTS wlrcesle'rt M8554 336 549 /1930 Great Britain 80/42 gf Mumhflm Head Island, 900,458 7/1962 Great Britain..... 72/252 922,174 3/1963 Great Britain.. 72/201 No. 5113 1 1963 1,033,621 2/1958 Germany..... 80/42 1,075,940 7 1967 Great B 't 72 201 Patented Aug. 31, 1971 am I [73] Assignee Morgan Construction Company P Examiner-Charles Lanham Worcester, Mass Assistant ExaminerE. M. Combs AIt0rney-Chittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier AlBSTRA CT: An apparatus for laterally transferring successive axially advancing product lengths from the run-on table of [54] TRANSFER MECHANHSM a rolling mill to the receiving end of the cooling bed. The ap- 2 Cmims w Drawing Figs paratus includes a first slldlng notch extending along one s de of the run-on table and a second laterally ad acent sliding [52] 111.5. (I! 72/201, notch at the mceiving end f the Cooling becL Immediate, 72/252 upon being transferred laterally by sweep-off arms from the [51 lint. Cl 1132111) 39/20, run. bl i h fi t h, a given product length begins 43/0O1B2m 43/10 to slide to rest. One side of the first notch is then elevated to lFleld 011 Search 72/201, laterally t f the snding producuength into the second 250, 252, 342, 1164;/42; 19 /2 33 notch, where it eventually comes to rest. While the product [56] Refemmw Cmd length is being removed from the second notch by the cooling UNITED STATES PATENTS g zggge 11 1933 Peterson 198/27 1,448,425 3/1923 Worthington 72/483 1,954,123 4/1934 Fisketal, 198/33 bed carryover rack, the sweep-off arms have already deposited the next successive product. in the first sliding notch. I The operation of the sweep-off arms and the movable side of the first notch is controlled by eccentrics mounted on a common rotatable shaft,

"11 1mm I I PATENTEU was] 197! 8,602,028

SHEET 1 [IF 6 o *2 01K 3 N N N L- N INVENTORS N KENNETH L KLUSMIER By EDMUND S. MURRAH m, 2/64, M gum, l ATTORNEYS PATEHTHI M1831 I97:

sum 2 or 6 JN QENTORS KENNETH KLUSMIER BYEDMUND s. MURRAH (,AM,M), EM, 5M

ATTORNEYS PATENI'EU A3183] Ian SHEET 3 OF 6 R .5 M m8 Nw E v W mL H TD EN NU NM ED KE Y B ATTORNEYS PATENTEU AUBSI I93 3,602,028

SHEET []F 6 INVENTORS KENNETH L. KLUSMIER BYEDMUND S. MURRAH ATTORNEYS PATENTED M1531 l97l SHEET S 0F 6 FIG 5 ii 'i i I "if "n" I INVENTURS KENNETH L. KLUSMIER BYEDMUND S. MURRAH 1 r d W FZQQM A ATTORNEYS TRANSFER MECHANISM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rolling mills producing elongated products such as bars, rods, angles and the like, more particularly to an improved means for laterally transferring successive product lengths from the run-on table onto the receiving end of the cooling bed.

In conventional mill installations, hot rolled product is cut into cooling bed lengths as it emerges from the final finishing stand. Each product length is then accelerated by driven table rollers (usually to about 115 percent of mill delivery speed) so as to provide a gap between successive lengths. The spaced lengths are next directed onto a run-on" table, the latter extending alongside the receiving end of the cooling bed. A transfer mechanism is employed to laterally shift each successive product length from the run-on table onto the receiving end of the cooling bed. From here, the product lengths are cooled while being shifted laterally across the cooling bed by the cooling bed carryover mechanism.

The cooling bed is considered to be one of the more expensive mill components, with total cost being directly proportional to cooling bed length, and it is generally recognized that minimum cooling bed length is a function of the shortest product length that can be handled by the transfer mechanism. In other words, a cooling bed cannot be shorter than the shortest product length capable of being handled by the transfer mechanism. It therefore follows that any increase in the operating efficiency of the transfer mechanism is highly desirable because it permits further reductions in cooling bed length with proportional savings in equipment expenditures.

Conventional transfer mechanisms normally include a single sliding notch located between the run-on table and the receiving end of the cooling bed. In operation, a given product length travelling at a speed slightly greater than mill delivery speed, say about 3450 FPM (mill delivery speed of 3000 FPM I5 percent acceleration to IT), desired gap) is shifted laterally into the sliding notch where it slides to rest. Thereafter, the cooling bed carryover rack is actuated to clear the stationary product length from the sliding notch. Once this has been accomplished, the sliding notch is again ready to accept the next succeeding product length. Thus, the shortest product length (L) that can be handled by the transfer mechanism is equal to:

Vm (Vm/K+IT), where Vm mill delivery speed in feet/sec.

k a function of gravity, coefficient of friction and notch configuration carryover interference time, i.e., the time required for the cooling bed carryover rack to clear a product length from the sliding notch.

The present invention departs from the foregoing in one important respect by making it possible to pick up one stationary product length with the cooling bed carryover rack while the next succeeding length is already in the process of sliding to rest. By overlapping slide time and carryover interference time," a substantial saving is realized in the total time required to handle a given product length.

This advantage is made possible by providing two laterally adjacent sliding notches between the run-on table and the receiving end of the cooling bed. The first notch is positioned next to the run-on table and the second adjacent notch is positioned at the receiving end of the cooling bed. With this arrangement, a given product length is again shifted laterally from the run-on table into the first notch, at which point the product length immediately begins to slide to rest. However, while the product length continues to slide, one side of the first notch is elevated to laterally transfer the sliding product length into the second notch where it eventually slides to a rest. While the stationary product length is being removed from the second notch by the cooling bed carryover, the first notch is already filled with the next successive product length.

In other words, the present invention makes it possible to overlap slide time" and carryover interference time. Because slide time and carryover interference time, the expression for minimum product length is modified as follows: L=V /k Thus, by employing the present double sliding notch arrangement in place of a more conventional transfer mechanism, minimum cooling bed length may be reduced by a distance equal to (V,,, IT). Where the mill is operating at a delivery speed of 3,000 FPM and the carryover interference time is about 1.9 seconds, this saving amounts to approximately feet. This reduction in cooling bed length, which incidentally increases in direct proportion to increases in mill delivery speeds, represents a substantial savings in equipment costs.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and more efficient apparatus for transferring the hot rolled product of a rolling mill from the run-on table to the receiving end of the cooling bed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a transfer apparatus which includes first and second sliding notches positioned between the run-on table and the cooling bed, the first of said notches embodying means in the form of a movable elevator for transferring axially sliding stock into the second adjacent notch.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved drive arrangement for operating and coordinating the means for laterally transferring each product length. In the preferred embodiment of the invention to be hereinafter described, this is accomplished by driving both the sweep-off arms employed to transfer product lengths from the run-on table to the first notch, and the elevating side wall of the first notch used to transfer product from the first notch to the second by means of eccentrics mounted on a common rotatable shaft. This arrangement greatly simplifies the overall design of the transfer apparatus, while at the same time insuring proper coordination of all transfer mechanisms.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the layout of material handling equipment at the deliver end of a rolling mill;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 2-2 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGS. 2, 4i and 5;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along lines 4-4i and 5-5 respectively of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6-9 are sectional views depicting the operation of the transfer apparatus; and,

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing details of both sliding notches in relation to the stationary and carryover racks of the cooling bed.

Referring initially to FIG. l, the last stand of a rolling mill is illustrated at 110. Hot rolled product emerges from the rolling mill in one continuous billet length and thereafter continues axially onto a roller table generally indicated at ll2.

Immediately upon exiting from stand 10, the hot rolled product is cut into cooling bed lengths by a drum shear 114, with each length thereafter being accelerated by the driven rolls of table 112 so as to provide a gap between successive lengths. The successive lengths then continue over a cooling bed extension 16 to a run-on table 185, the latter extending between the two sides 20a and 20b of a conventional double sided cooling bed generally indicated at 20.

As can best be seen by further reference to FIG. 2, run on table 1% is provided with two oppositely disposed sets of table rollers, one set 18a facing side 2011 of the cooling bed, and the other set 18b facing side 20b. Each set of oppositely disposed table rollers is driven by motors 22 located between vertically disposed protecting plates 24. Successive product lengths are directed to either table rollers 18a or 18b by an upstream switch 26 (FIG. ll), depending on which side of the cooling bed is to be loaded next. The product lengths are laterally shifted from the run-on table onto either side 20a or 20b of the cooling bed by means of transfer mechanismsgenerally indicated by the reference numerals 28. The product lengths then undergo cooling as they are progressively shifted across the cooling'bed. Upon arriving at the runoff tables 29 (FIG. 1), the product lengths are next directed to shears 30 where they are cut into shorter lengths before being finally fed onto back shear tables 32 for shipment or transfer to storage areas.

Since the run-on table 18, transfer mechanisms 28, cooling bed 20 and other associated components are symmetrically constructed and arranged with respect to the mill centerline, the description will now proceed with reference to product being directed onto table rollers 18a for ultimate delivery to the receiving end of the cooling bed side 20a. It is to be understood, however, that the following comments would apply equally as well to product being directed to the opposite side 20b of the cooling bed.

The transfer mechanism 28 employed to laterally shift product from table rollers 18a onto the receiving end of the cooling bed side 200 will now be described with further reference to FIGS. 35 and 10.

A pair of laterally adjacent sliding notches 34 and 36 are located between table rollers 18a and the receiving end of cooling bed 20a. Sliding notch 36 is formed between two angularly disposed sides a a and 38b of end plates 40, the latter being attached to and supported by the spaced stationary members 47 which comprise the fixed rack of the cooling bed. End plates 40 are spaced as at 39 (See FIG. to accommodate vertical travel of the cooling bed carryover rack, as will hereinafter be described in more detail. Each end plate 40 is further provided with a downturned section 42. The sections 42 of each plate 40 form one side of the sliding notch 34. The other side of notch 34 is formed by a separate elevator member 44, the latter being disposed angularly with respect to downturned sections 42. Member 44 is provided at spaced intervals with depending extensions 46 attached as at 41 to the upturned ends of horizontally extending links 43. Each link 43 is pivotally connected at one end as at 45 to one of the members 47 comprising the stationary rack of the cooling bed. The other end of each link 43 is in turn pivotally connected as at 48 to the bifurcated head 50 of a threaded rod 52. Each rod 52 extends through a cylindrical collar 54 on an underlying yoke assembly 56, and is adjustably held in place against axial movement by nuts 58. The yoke assemblies 56 each have an eccentric 60 journaled therein, the eccentrics in turn being keyed as at 62 to a rotatable operating shaft 64 extending beneath the receiving end of the cooling bed.

With the arrangement described above, rotation of shaft 64 and the eccentrics 60 keyed thereto will cause each yoke assembly 56 to move in an elliptical orbit. The elliptical motion of yoke assemblies 50 when combined with the restraining action of links 43 will in turn cause elevator member 44 to reciprocate vertically along a slightly arcuate path between a lowered element receiving position shown in solid lines in FIG.

4 and a raised discharge position indicated in phantom lines,

at 44a in FIG. 4.

As can be best seen by a combined references to FIGS. 3 and 5, operating shaft 64 is further provided with a second set of eccentrics 66 keyed to the shaft as at 68 and journaled for rotation in yoke assemblies 70. Each yoke assembly 70 is in turn provided with an upwardly extending angular extension 72 to which is secured a continuous support member 74. A plurality of curved sweep-off arms 76 are attached to and extend upwardly from the support member 74. The sweep-off arms 76 are spaced at intervals coinciding with the spaces between the vertically disposed protective plates 24. Each yoke assembly 70 is further provided with a depending extension 78 pivotally connected as at 80 to one end of an adjustable rod 82. The opposite end of rod 82 is pivotally connected as at 84 to a horizontally disposed beam which .forms a part of the structure supporting cooling bed a.

Rotation of operating shaft 64 and the eccentrics 66 keyed thereto will cause each yoke assembly 70 to move in an elliptical orbit, much in the same manner as the elliptical motion previously described in connection with yoke assemblies 56. The elliptical motion of yoke assembles 70 when combined with the restraining action of threaded rods 82 will cause the sweep-off arms 76 to move between table rollers 180 when laterally transferring elongated elements from the table rollers into the first sliding notch 34. The path travelled by the sweepoff arms 76 during one complete revolution of operating shaft 64 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9 at 7.

The cooling bed 20a is of a conventional type including a stationary rack made up of spaced notched supporting members 47 across which product lengths are laterally shifted by means of a carryover rack. As can be best seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 10 the carryover rack is made up of a plurality of carryover members 88 interspersed between the stationary members 47 and interconnected by underlying transverse cross braces 89. The carryover rack is supported at one end at points spaced along its length by operating member 90, the base of each of which includes yoke assembly 92 having an eccentric 94 journaled for rotation therein. The other end of the carryover rack is supported by elevator links 96 pivotally connected at their upper ends as at 98 to cross braces 89, and at their lower ends as at 100 to pivotal bell cranks 102. Rods 104 connect the bell cranks 102 to the eccentrics 94.

With this arrangement, rotation of eccentrics 94 will cause the carryover rack to move in a somewhat circular orbit as indicated diagrammatically at 106 in FIG. 9. In this manner, the carryover rack serves as a means for engaging and progressively shifting product lengths from notch to notch across the supporting members 47 of the stationary rack.

The operational sequence of the transfer mechanism 28 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 69.

At the operational stage shown in FIG. 6, a given product length a has already been deposited in sliding notch 34 and rotation of operating shaft 64 has caused elevator member 44 to begin its upward travel. Product length a is now rapidly decelerating as it begins sliding to rest in notch 34. While this is occuring, the next successive product length b is running onto the table rollers 18a and the sweep-off arms 76 are moving between the table rollers towards the left as viewed in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows a subsequent stage in the operation where elevator member 44 has reached the uppermost limit of its travel, thus causing the product length 0" to roll laterally into the second sliding notch 36. At this stage in the operation, product length b continues to run along table rollers 18a and the sweep-off arms 76 are beginning to move upwardly.

At the stage depicted in FIG. 8, the product length a has now slid to rest in sliding notch 36. The cooling bed carryover rack 88 has begun its upward motion. While this is occuring, elevator member 44 is descending to its lowermost element receiving position and finger members 76 have contacted and begun to shift product length b laterally across the width of the table rollers 18a.

At the stage shown in FIG. 9, product length b has been shifted into sliding notch 34 by the sweep-off arms 76 and has begun to slide to rest. While this is occuring, cooling bed carryover rack 88 operates through one complete cycle to transfer the now stationary product length a into the first notch of the stationary cooling bed rack. At the same time, the next subsequent product length c begins to run along table rollers 18a.

Thus it can be seen that while a given product length is in the process of sliding to rest in the first sliding notch 34, the preceding product length is being transferred from the second notch 36 onto the receiving end of the cooling bed by the cooling bed carryover rack. In other words, the cycle time of the carryover cooling rack completely overlaps the slide time of a given product length. As previously pointed out, this results in a substantial increase in the operating efficiency of the transfer mechanism over that available with prior art devices.

It is our intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiment herein disclosed which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

ll Apparatus for axially receiving hot rolled elements from a rolling mill and for laterally transferring the said elements onto the receiving end of a cooling bed which is of generally conventional design with stationary racks along which successive elements are laterally transferred by movable carryover racks, said apparatus comprising: a roller table positioned to axially receive successive hot rolled elements advancing axially from the rolling mill; means defining a first notch laterally adjacent to said roller table, said means including a first Sta-- tionary side of a second side disposed angularly and movable relative to said first side, said first notch being adapted to accommodate continued sliding advancement of elements deposited therein; means defining a second notch located adjacent to said first notch at the receiving end of the cooling bed; a first elliptically operating transfer means for laterally shifting a given axially advancing element from said roller table into said first notch, at which point the said given element begins sliding to rest; a second transfer means operative to move said first side arcuately relative to said second side to thereby transfer the axially sliding given element from said first notch into said second notch, said second notch being adapted to permit the given element received therein to slide to rest, after which the cooling bed carryover racks may be operated to transfer the given element from said second notch onto the fixed cooling bed raclr while the next subsequent element is transferred into and begins sliding to rest in said first notch; and, eccentric means for operating said first and second transfer means, said eccentric means being mounted on and rotatably driven by a common shaft extending in a direction parallel to the length of said first and second notches.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first transfer means including a plurality of sweep-off arms operating between the rollers of said roller table to laterally transfer successive axially advancing elements from said roller table into said first notch. 

1. Apparatus for axially receiving hot rolled elements from a rolling mill and for laterally transferring the said elements onto the receiving end of a cooling bed which is of generally conventional design with stationary racks along which successive elements are laterally transferred by movable carryover racks, said apparatus comprising: a roller table positioned to axially receive successive hot rolled elements advancing axially from the rolling mill; means defining a first notch laterally adjacent to said roller table, said means including a first stationary side of a second side disposed angularly and movable relative to said first side, said first notch being adapted to accommodate continued sliding advancement of elements deposited Therein; means defining a second notch located adjacent to said first notch at the receiving end of the cooling bed; a first elliptically operating transfer means for laterally shifting a given axially advancing element from said roller table into said first notch, at which point the said given element begins sliding to rest; a second transfer means operative to move said first side arcuately relative to said second side to thereby transfer the axially sliding given element from said first notch into said second notch, said second notch being adapted to permit the given element received therein to slide to rest, after which the cooling bed carryover racks may be operated to transfer the given element from said second notch onto the fixed cooling bed rack while the next subsequent element is transferred into and begins sliding to rest in said first notch; and, eccentric means for operating said first and second transfer means, said eccentric means being mounted on and rotatably driven by a common shaft extending in a direction parallel to the length of said first and second notches.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first transfer means including a plurality of sweep-off arms operating between the rollers of said roller table to laterally transfer successive axially advancing elements from said roller table into said first notch. 